Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in El Paso?
Yes, El Paso's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as El Paso has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or El Paso's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, El Paso's water utility, El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B, had 1 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for El Paso was resolved on June 30, 2020. This assessment is based on the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for El Paso Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in El Paso tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in El Paso's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
El Paso Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B for El Paso in Texas. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Jan. 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020, El Paso had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Water Quality Parameter M/R which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Lead and Copper Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Lead and Copper Rule.
From April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018, El Paso had 21 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Regular which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Volatile Organic Chemicals rule code family for the following contaminant codes: cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Xylenes, Total, DICHLOROMETHANE, o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene, Vinyl chloride, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene, CHLOROBENZENE, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, Benzene, Carbon tetrachloride.
From April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018, El Paso had 28 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Regular which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Synthetic Organic Chemicals rule code family for the following contaminant codes: OXAMYL, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldicarb sulfone, Carbofuran, Methoxychlor, Toxaphene, Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, Simazine, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, LASSO, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, HEXACHLOROBENZENE, Pentachlorophenol, Chlordane, ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE, Dalapon, Picloram, Dinoseb, 2,4,5-TP, Endrin, Benzo(a)pyrene, 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE, Aldicarb, Atrazine, 2,4-D, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, BHC-GAMMA.
For the compliance period beginning Dec. 30, 2015, El Paso had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Lead Consumer Notice which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Lead and Copper Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Lead and Copper Rule.
From June 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014, El Paso had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Chlorite.
From April 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014, El Paso had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Bromate.
Is there Lead in El Paso Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the El Paso water system, El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0011 mg/L of lead in El Paso water. This is 7.3% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from El Paso contained more lead.
While El Paso water testing may have found 0.0011 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in El Paso Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Fort Bliss - near El Paso with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if El Paso has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
El Paso SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2020 - 06/30/2020 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Water Quality Parameter M/R (53) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) | Lead and Copper Rule (5000) | Chemicals (300) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (2380) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Xylenes, Total (2955) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | DICHLOROMETHANE (2964) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | o-Dichlorobenzene (2968) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | p-Dichlorobenzene (2969) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Vinyl chloride (2976) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (2979) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,2-Dichloroethane (2980) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (2981) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Trichloroethylene (2984) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,1,2-Trichloroethane (2985) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Tetrachloroethylene (2987) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | CHLOROBENZENE (2989) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Toluene (2991) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Ethylbenzene (2992) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Styrene (2996) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | OXAMYL (2036) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Aldicarb sulfoxide (2043) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Aldicarb sulfone (2044) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Carbofuran (2046) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Methoxychlor (2015) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Toxaphene (2020) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (2035) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Simazine (2037) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (2042) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | LASSO (2051) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Heptachlor (2065) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Heptachlor epoxide (2067) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | HEXACHLOROBENZENE (2274) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Pentachlorophenol (2326) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Chlordane (2959) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE (2946) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Dalapon (2031) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Picloram (2040) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Dinoseb (2041) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | 2,4,5-TP (2110) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,2-Dichloropropane (2983) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (2378) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,1-Dichloroethylene (2977) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Endrin (2005) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Benzo(a)pyrene (2306) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE (2931) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Aldicarb (2047) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Atrazine (2050) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | 2,4-D (2105) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (2039) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Benzene (2990) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Carbon tetrachloride (2982) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
| 04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) | BHC-GAMMA (2010) | Chemicals (300) | Synthetic Organic Chemicals (320) |
| 12/30/2015 - | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Lead Consumer Notice (66) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) | Lead and Copper Rule (5000) | Chemicals (300) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) |
| 06/01/2014 - 06/30/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) | Chlorite (1009) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) |
| 04/01/2014 - 06/30/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) | Bromate (1011) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
El Paso Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | PO BOX 511 EL PASO, TX, 79961-0511 |
Existing customers can login to their El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B account to pay their El Paso water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your El Paso water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your El Paso water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in El Paso means you will often need to put the water in your name with El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in El Paso means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.76 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in El Paso, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
El Paso Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from El Paso's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
E l P a s o W a t e r
2020 Drinking Water Report
Versión en Español al reverso.
We Take Water Quality Seriously
This annual report, required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), describes the source and quality of your drinking water and our efforts to ensure a high quality water supply. We test our water for potentially harm- ful substances and put it through a purification process before delivering it to the community. Thanks to improved treatment methods and the increasing sophistication of laboratory instrumentation, water quality in El Paso is better than it has ever been.
The sources of both tap water and bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land
or through the ground, it dissolves
Contaminants that may reasonably be pres- ent in source water include:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
-
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be
naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwaterrun-off, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming. - Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
-
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems. - Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regu- lations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The
presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Contaminants might be found in drinking water that may cause taste, color or odor problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns. For more information on the taste, odor or color of drinking water, please call
More information about contaminants and poten- tial health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Required Additional Health Information You may be more vulnerable than the gen- eral population to certain microbial contam- inants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking
water. Infants; some elderly or
immune system disorders can be particularly at risk from in- fections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physi- cian or health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Serving El Paso
El Paso Water serves customers inside and outside the city limits. We provide retail water service to cus- tomers in the City of El Paso, Westway, Canutillo and Homestead. We also provide wholesale service to sev- eral communities in El Paso County.
Source Water Assessment
A source water assessment was conducted for El Paso Water by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Due to the complicated nature of El Paso’s groundwater supplies, some susceptibilities exist, but the depth of the groundwater is a mitigating factor. Because the surface water supply comes from upstream states and because a variety of agricultural and munic- ipal dischargers use the Rio Grande, the surface water supply is uniquely susceptible. However, El Paso’s sur- face water treatment plants are designed to minimize the effects of those susceptibilities.
Note to wholesale customers: Water consumers in the Lower Valley Water District, Paseo Del Este MUD, Gaslight Square MHP,
retailer for further information.
Retail Customers
88.07%
Main Office
1154 Hawkins Blvd. El Paso, TX 79925 epwater.org
Customer Service Center
6400 Boeing Drive
El Paso, TX 79925 (915)
Public Service Board Meets second Wednesday of each month
For more information about water quality or a copy of this report call: Water Quality Laboratory
(915)
Wholesale Customers
11.93%
DRINKING WATER ANALYSIS
|
Substance |
|
Units |
|
Sample |
|
|
|
Range of |
Average |
|
MCL |
|
MCLG |
Violation |
|
Possible Source |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
Inorganics Contaminants |
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Samples |
Level |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Arsenic |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 21 |
6.6 |
|
10 |
|
0 |
|
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
||||
|
Barium |
|
ppm |
2020 |
|
|
0.07 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|||||
|
Chromium |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 5.4 |
2.5 |
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
||||
|
Cyanide |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 89.2 |
5.0 |
|
200 |
|
200 |
|
No |
|
Discharge from steel/metal factories |
|
||||
|
Fluoride |
|
ppm |
2020 |
|
|
0.33 - 1.45 |
0.66 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
||||
|
Nitrate as Nitrogen |
|
ppm |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 3.2 |
0.71 |
|
10 |
|
10 |
|
No |
|
Runoff from fertilizer use |
|
||||
|
Selenium |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 11 |
1.3 |
|
50 |
|
50 |
|
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
||||
|
Radioactive Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Alpha, excluding |
|
pCi/L |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 7.0 |
2.0 |
|
15 |
|
0 |
|
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
||||
|
radon and uranium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beta/photon emitters |
|
pCi/L |
2020 |
|
|
5.6 - 13.9 |
8.9 |
|
50 |
|
0 |
|
No |
|
Decay of natural and |
|
||||
|
Uranium |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
2.1 - 14.4 |
4.9 |
|
30 |
|
0 |
|
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
||||
|
Disinfection Byproducts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bromate |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 6.5 |
2.40 |
|
10 |
|
0 |
|
No |
|
|
|||||
|
Chlorite |
|
ppm |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 0.126 |
0.02 |
|
1 |
|
0.8 |
|
No |
|
|
|||||
|
Volatile Organic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Xylenes |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 1.17 |
0.040 |
|
10000 |
|
10000 |
|
No |
|
Discharge from petroleum/chemical factories |
|
||||
|
Unregulated Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chloroform |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 30.7 |
5.04 |
|
N/A |
|
70 |
|
N/A |
|
|
|||||
|
Bromoform |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 11.5 |
1.91 |
|
N/A |
|
0 |
|
N/A |
|
|
|||||
|
Bromodichloromethane |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 27.2 |
5.68 |
|
N/A |
|
0 |
|
N/A |
|
|
|||||
|
Dibromochloromethane |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 28.6 |
5.89 |
|
N/A |
|
60 |
|
N/A |
|
|
|||||
|
Lead and Copper |
|
Units |
|
Sample |
|
|
|
Range of |
90th |
|
Action |
|
MCLG |
Violation |
|
Possible Source |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Samples |
Percentile |
|
Level |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper |
|
ppm |
2020 |
|
|
0.010 - 0.61 |
0.36 |
|
1.3 |
|
1.3 |
|
No |
|
Corrosion of household plumbing systems |
|
||||
|
Lead |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 4 |
1.1 |
|
15 |
|
0 |
|
No |
|
Corrosion of household plumbing systems |
|
||||
|
Disinfection Byproducts |
|
Units |
|
Sample |
|
|
|
Range of |
Highest |
|
MCL |
|
MCLG |
Violation |
|
Possible Source |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Samples |
LRAA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Halocetic Acids (THAA) |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0.0 - 30.3 |
17.2 |
|
60 |
|
N/A |
|
No |
|
|
|||||
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0.0 - 61.8 |
51.5 |
|
80 |
|
N/A |
|
No |
|
By product of drinking water disinfection |
|
||||
|
Disinfection Residual |
|
Units |
|
Sample |
|
|
|
Range of |
Average |
|
MRDL |
|
MRDLG |
Violation |
|
Possible Source |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Samples |
Level |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chlorine |
|
ppm |
2020 |
|
|
1.5 - 2.1 |
1.78 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
No |
|
Water additive used to control microbes |
|
||||
|
Chlorine Dioxide |
|
ppb |
2020 |
|
|
0 - 0 |
0 |
|
800 |
|
800 |
|
No |
|
Water additive used to control microbes |
|
||||
|
Total Organic Carbon |
|
|
|
Sample |
|
|
|
Range of |
Average |
|
|
Treatment Technique |
|
|
Possible Source |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Samples |
Level |
|
System in compliance, yearly |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Removal Ratio |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
1.54 - 3.72 |
2.13 |
|
|
Naturally present in the environment |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
removal ratio is 1.00 or greater |
|
|
|
||||
|
Coliform Bacteria |
|
|
|
Sample |
|
|
|
Total Number |
|
|
MCL |
MCLG |
Violation |
|
Possible Source |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
of Positives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Coliform Bacteria |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
0 |
|
5% monthly positive samples |
0 |
No |
|
Naturally present in the environment |
|
|||||||
|
E. Coli Bacterial |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
0 |
|
Both routine and repeat total coliform |
0 |
No |
|
Naturally present in the environment |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
positive and one also E. coli positive |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Turbidity |
|
Units |
|
Sample |
|
|
|
Level |
|
Limit (Treatment Technique) |
Violation |
|
Possible Source |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Detected |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highest Single Measurement |
|
|
NTU |
|
2020 |
|
|
0.18 |
|
|
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
No |
|
Soil runoff |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Lowest Monthly % Meeting |
|
|
NTU |
|
2020 |
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
No |
|
Soil runoff |
|
|
|
Limit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
El PASO WATER has violated the monitoring and reporting requirements set by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in Chapter 30, section 290, Subchapter F. Even though these were not emergencies, as our customers, you have the right to know what happened and what we did to correct these situations.
We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific water quality parameters and contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether our drinking water meets health standards. During January
The table below lists the Water Quality Parameters we did not properly test for during the last year, how often we were supposed to sample the Water Quality Parameters, how many samples we are supposed to take, how many samples we took, when the samples should have been collected, and the date on which the
Contaminant |
Required Sample |
Number of Samples |
When Samples Should |
When |
|
Frequency |
Taken |
Have Been Taken |
Samples Were Taken |
|
|
|
|
|
Water Quality Parameters |
50 samples every |
25 |
January - June 2020 |
August 2020 |
(Distribution System) |
6 months |
|
|
(Samples Complete) |
|
|
|
|
|
Water Quality Parameters |
50 samples every |
6 |
January - June 2020 |
September 2020 |
(Entry Points) |
6 months |
|
|
(Samples Complete) |
|
|
|
|
|
What is being done?
EL PASO WATER has notified the TCEQ and the correct number of samples have been taken both before and after this compliance period. We have corrected the problem and EL PASO WATER is on the path to compliance at this time. For more information, please contact Richard Wilcox at (915)
Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and business). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by EL PASO WATER
Public Water System Number: TX0710002
Date Distributed: April 1, 2021
Where Our Water
Comes From
The water we supply to our customers comes from three sources — one surface water source and two groundwater sources. The surface water source is the Rio Grande. The groundwater sources are the Mesilla Bolson and Hueco Bolson aquifers. Although some customers receive water from only one source, most customers receive water from two sources, depending on the time of year.
Our plants treat water to a level of safety far exceeding what is required by EPA regulation. El Paso Water consistently treats surface water to 0.1 NTUs measured immediately after the water has passed through each filter. This is significantly better than the required 0.3 NTUs.
Definition
Action Level
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
Average - Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average monthly samples.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to maxi- mum contaminant level goals as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG)
The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
Location Running Annual Average (LRAA) The average of sample analytical results for sam- ples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.
N/A
not applicable
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) A measure of turbidity (cloudiness).
Parts per Billion (ppb)
or micrograms per liter. An example of one part per billion is one packet of artificial sweetener sprin- kled into an
Parts per Million (ppm)
or milligrams per liter. An example of one part per million is one packet of artificial sweetener sprin- kled into 250 gallons of water.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L)
A measure of radioactivity.
Treatment Technique
A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Unregulated Contaminants
Those contaminants for which EPA has not estab- lished drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.
Information About Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for preg- nant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with sevice lines and home plumbing. El Paso Water is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can mini- mize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, consider having your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa. gov/safewater/lead or call the Water Quality Laboratory at (915)
Health Effects Language
Turbidity (NTU) - Turbidity has no health effects. Turbidity is monitored because it can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth.
Arsenic (ppb) - While your drinking water meets EPA’s standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is an element known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
E l P a s o W a t e r
Reporte de Calidad del Agua 2020
Tomamos en serio la calidad del agua
En este informe anual que exige la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) se describe el origen y la cali- dad del agua potable que consumimos, así como los esfuerzos que se realizan para garantizar que haya un suministro de agua de alta calidad. Nuestra agua se analiza para detectar sustancias potencialmente nocivas y se somete a un proceso de depuración intensiva antes de entregarla a la comunidad.
Gracias a la optimización de los métodos de tratamiento y los cada vez más sofisticados instrumentos de laboratorio, la calidad del agua de El Paso está mejor que nunca.
Las fuentes de las que se obtiene el agua que sale de la llave y el agua embotellada son ríos, lagos, arroyos, lagunas, embalses, manantiales y pozos. Cuando el agua recorre la superficie de la tierra o pasa por el suelo, va disolviendo minerales de origen natural y en algunos casos, materiales radioactivos, y puede recoger sus- tancias derivadas de la presencia de animales
o de actividades humanas.
Algunos de los contaminantes que pueden estar presentes en las fuentes de suministro de agua son:
- Contaminantes microbianos, como los virus y las bacterias, que pueden provenir de las plantas de trata- miento de aguas residuales, de los sistemas sépticos, de las operaciones agropecuarias y de los animales silvestres.
- Contaminantes inorgánicos, como sales y metales, que pueden presen- tarse en forma natural o a consecuencia del escurrimiento del drenaje plu- vial urbano, de las descargas de aguas residuales industriales o domésticas, de la producción de aceite y gas, de la minería o de la agricultura.
- Plaguicidas y herbicidas, que pueden provenir de fuentes como la agricultura, los escurrimientos de aguas pluviales urbanas y las actividades de tipo doméstico.
- Contaminantes químicos orgánicos, incluyendo compuestos orgánicos sintéticos y volátiles, que son subproductos de procesos industriales y de la producción de petróleo, y que también pueden provenir de estaciones de gasolina, escurrimientos del drenaje pluvial urbano y de los sistemas sépticos.
-
Contaminantes radioactivos, que pueden presentarse en la naturaleza
o pueden ser resultado de las actividades de minería y de la producción de aceite y gas.
Con el fin de asegurar que el agua de la llave sea segura para beber, la EPA establece normas que limitan la cantidad de ciertos contaminantes en el agua que suministran los organismos operadores de servicios públicos. La norma- tividad de la Dirección de Control de Alimentos y Fármacos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) establece el mismo tipo de límites para los contaminantes
en el agua embotellada, con el fin de proteger la salud pública. De manera razonable se puede prever que el agua potable, incluy- endo el agua embotellada, contenga al menos pequeñas cantidades de algunos contaminantes, pero no significa necesariamente que el agua represente un riesgo para la salud. En el agua potable a veces se encuentran contaminantes que pueden causar problemas de sabor, color y olor; sin embargo, estos tipos de elementos no necesariamente provocan prob- lemas de salud. Para obtener más información sobre el sabor, olor o color que debe tener el agua potable, por favor llame al
Se puede obtener más información sobre los contaminantes y sus posibles efectos en la salud llamando a la línea de Agua Potable Segura de la
EPA al
Información adicional sobre salud
Hay personas que son más vulnerables que la po- blación en general a ciertos contaminantes microbia- nos que se encuentran en el agua potable, como el patógeno
Cryptosporidium. Los bebés, algunos ancianos o las personas con siste- mas inmunológicos comprometidos, como las que se están sometiendo a quimioterapia contra el cáncer, quienes han recibido transplantes de órganos, quienes reciben tratamiento con esteroides y las personas con VIH/SIDA u otros trastornos del sistema inmunológico, pueden sufrir un mayor riesgo de contraer infecciones. Si usted pertenece a alguno de es- tos grupos debe consultar a su médico o proveedor de servicios de salud sobre el consumo de agua potable. Para más orientación sobre las medi- das que deben tomarse para reducir el riesgo de contraer una infección por Cryptosporidium llame a la línea telefónica de Agua Potable Segura [Safe Drinking Water Hotline] al
Sirviendo agua en y para El Paso
El Paso Water sirve a clientes dentro y fuera de los límites de la ciudad. Proporcionamos servicio de agua al menudeo a los clientes de la ciudad de El Paso, Westway y Canutillo. También proporcionamos servicio al may- oreo a varias comunidades en el condado de El Paso.
Evaluación de la fuente de suministro de agua
La Comisión de Calidad Ambiental de Texas realizó en el 2003 una evaluación de las fuentes de suministro de agua para El Paso Water. Debido a la complicada naturaleza de las fuentes subterráneas de agua de El Paso, existen algunas susceptibilidades, pero la profundidad del agua subterránea es un factor mitigante. Dado que
el suministro de agua superficial proviene de estados que se encuentran corriente arriba, y como una gran variedad de usuarios de tipo agrícola y municipal descargan sus aguas hacia el Río Bravo, el suministro de agua superficial es sumamente susceptible. Sin embargo, las plantas potabilizadoras de El Paso están diseña- das para minimizar esos efectos.
Nota a los consumidores: Los consumidores de agua de los Distritos de Lower Valley [Valle Bajo], Paseo Del Este MUD, Gaslight Square MHP,
Norte, San Ysidro MHP, Freeport McMoran, Universal Church Windmere, Fort Bliss Main Post Area, East Biggs y Arvey Park reciben agua del sistema de distri- bución de EPWater, por lo cual la calidad del agua que reciben es igual a la que se describe en este informe. Fort Bliss, pueden recibir una parte o la totalidad del agua que consumen del sistema de distribución de El Paso Water, pero también de otras fuentes que no se mencionan en este informe. Sírvase comunicarse con su proveedor de agua potable para obtener más información al respecto.
Clientes Al Menudeo
88.07%
Clientes Al Mayoreo
11.93%
Oficina principal 1154 Hawkins Blvd. El Paso, TX 79925 epwater.org
Centro de atención al cliente 6400 Boeing Drive
El Paso, TX 79925 (915)
Public Service Board Reunión el 2º miércoles de cada mes
Para obtener más información acerca de la calidad del agua o una copia de este informe llame al: Laboratorio de Calidad del Agua (915)
ANÁLISIS DEL AGUA POTABLE
|
Substancis |
Unidad |
Año de |
Rango de |
Nivel |
|
MCL |
MCLG |
Violación |
Posible Fuente |
|
||
|
Contaminantes Inorganicos |
|
Prueba |
las Muestras |
Promedio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arsénico |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 21 |
6.6 |
|
10 |
0 |
|
|
No |
Desgaste de depósitos naturales |
|
|
Bario |
ppm |
2020 |
0.029 - 0.12 |
0.07 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
|
No |
Desgaste de depósitos naturales |
|
|
Cromo |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 5.4 |
2.5 |
|
100 |
100 |
|
No |
Desgaste de depósitos naturales |
|
|
|
Cianuro |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 89.2 |
5.0 |
|
200 |
200 |
|
No |
Descarga de fábricas de acero/metal |
|
|
|
Fluoruro |
ppm |
2020 |
0.33 - 1.45 |
0.66 |
|
4 |
4 |
|
|
No |
Desgaste de depósitos naturales |
|
|
Nitrato como Nitrógeno |
ppm |
2020 |
0 - 3.2 |
0.71 |
|
10 |
10 |
|
|
No |
Deslize por uso de fertilizantes |
|
|
Selenio |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 11 |
1.3 |
|
50 |
50 |
|
|
No |
Desgaste de depósitos naturales |
|
|
Contaminantes Radioactivos |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alfa Gruesa Ajustada, |
pCi/L |
2020 |
0 - 7.0 |
2.0 |
|
15 |
0 |
|
|
No |
Desgaste de depósitos naturales |
|
|
excluyendo radón y uranio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emisores de beta/fotones |
pCi/L |
2020 |
5.6 - 13.9 |
8.9 |
|
50 |
0 |
|
|
No |
Descomposición de depósitos naturales y artificiales |
|
|
Uranio |
ppb |
2020 |
2.1 - 14.4 |
4.9 |
|
30 |
0 |
|
|
No |
Desgaste de depósitos naturales |
|
|
Subproductos de la Desinfección |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bromato |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 6.5 |
2.40 |
|
10 |
0 |
|
|
No |
|
|
|
Clorito |
ppm |
2020 |
0 - 0.126 |
0.02 |
|
1 |
0.8 |
|
No |
|
||
|
Contaminantes Orgánicos Volátiles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xilenos totales |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 1.17 |
0.040 |
|
10000 |
10000 |
|
No |
Descarga de fábricas de hule y productos químicos |
|
|
|
Contaminantes no Regulados |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cloroformo |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 30.7 |
5.04 |
|
N/A |
70 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
Bromoformo |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 11.5 |
1.91 |
|
N/A |
0 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
Bromodiclorometano |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 27.2 |
5.68 |
|
N/A |
0 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
Dibromoclorometano |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 28.6 |
5.89 |
|
N/A |
60 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
Plomo y Cobre |
Unidad |
Año de |
Rango de |
Percentil |
|
Nivel de |
MCLG |
Violación |
Posible Fuente |
|
||
|
|
|
Prueba |
las Muestras |
90 |
|
Acción |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cobre |
ppm |
2020 |
0.010 - 0.61 |
0.36 |
|
1.3 |
1.3 |
|
No |
Corrosión de tuberías domésticas |
|
|
|
Plomo |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 4 |
1.1 |
|
15 |
0 |
|
|
No |
Corrosión de tuberías domésticas |
|
|
Subproductors de la |
Unidad |
Año de |
Rango de |
LRAA |
|
MCL |
MCLG |
Violación |
Posible Fuente |
|
||
|
Desinfección |
|
Prueba |
las Muestras |
más alto |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total de Ácidos Haloacéticos (THAA) |
ppb |
2020 |
0.0 - 30.3 |
17.2 |
|
60 |
N/A |
|
No |
|
||
|
Total de Trihalometanos (TTHM) |
ppb |
2020 |
0.0 - 61.8 |
51.5 |
|
80 |
N/A |
|
No |
|
||
|
Residuo Desinfección |
Unidad |
Año de |
Rango de |
Nivel |
|
MRDL |
MRDLG |
Violación |
Posible Fuente |
|
||
|
|
|
Prueba |
las Muestras |
Promedio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cloro |
ppm |
2020 |
1.5 - 2.1 |
1.78 |
|
4 |
4 |
|
|
No |
Aditivo para controlar los microbios en el agua |
|
|
Dióxido de Cloro |
ppb |
2020 |
0 - 0 |
0 |
|
800 |
800 |
|
No |
Aditivo para controlar los microbios en el agua |
|
|
|
Carbono Orgánico Total |
|
Año de |
Rango de |
Nivel |
|
Técnica de tratamiento |
Posible Fuente |
|
||||
|
|
|
Prueba |
las Muestras |
Promedio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Proporción de Eliminación) |
|
2020 |
1.54 - 3.72 |
2.13 |
|
la tasa de eliminación es de 1,00 o más |
Presente en el medio ambiente |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sistema en cumplimiento, anualmente |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bacterias Coliformes |
|
Año de |
Número total |
|
MCL |
|
MCLG |
Violación |
Posible Fuente |
|
||
|
Total de Bacterias Coliformes |
|
Prueba |
de positivas |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
No |
Presente en el medio ambiente |
|
|
|
2020 |
0 |
5% muestras positivas mensuales |
|
|
|||||||
|
Bacterias E. coli |
|
2020 |
0 |
Ambas muestras (rutina y repetida) |
|
0 |
No |
Presente en el medio ambiente |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
positivas para coliformes totales y una |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
también positiva para E. coli |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Turbidez |
Unidad |
Año de |
Nivel |
Limite Técnica |
|
|
Violación |
Posible Fuente |
|
|||
|
|
|
Prueba |
Detectado |
de tratamiento |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Medida única más alta |
NTU |
2020 |
0.18 |
|
1.0 |
|
|
No |
Deslice de suelo |
|
||
|
Límite de reunión de porcentaje |
NTU |
2020 |
100% |
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
No |
Deslice de suelo |
|
|
|
mensual más bajo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE SOBRE SU AGUA POTABLE
Por medio de este aviso le informamos que El PASO WATER no cumplió con los requisitos de monitoreo y notificación establecidos por la Comisión de Calidad Ambiental de Texas (TCEQ, por sus siglas en inglés) en el Capítulo 30, sección 290, inciso F. Aunque no se presentó ninguna emergencia, como cliente nuestro, usted tiene derecho a saber lo que sucedió y lo que hicimos para corregir estas situaciones.
Estamos obligados a monitorear periódicamente el agua potable que usted consume para detectar parámetros específicos que tienen que ver con la calidad del agua y los contaminantes. Los resultados del monitoreo periódico nos indican si el agua potable cumple con las normas sanitarias. Durante el periodo de enero a junio de 2020 no realizamos los controles o pruebas de todos los parámetros y, por lo tanto, no podemos estar seguros de la calidad del agua potable durante ese tiempo.
En el siguiente cuadro se mencionan los Parámetros de Calidad del Agua que no analizamos adecuadamente durante el último año, con qué frecuencia se deberían haber tomado muestras de los parámetros, cuántas muestras se deben tomar, cuántas muestras se tomaron, cuándo se deberían haber tomado las muestras, y la fecha en que se tomaron muestras de seguimiento.
Contaminante |
Frecuencia de muestreo |
Número de muestras |
Cuando se deberían haber |
Cuando se tomaron |
|
requerida |
tomadas |
tomado muestras |
muestras de seguimiento |
|
|
|
|
|
Parámetros de calidad del |
50 muestras cada |
25 |
enero a junio de 2020 |
agosto de 2020 |
agua (Sistema de distribución) |
6 meses |
|
|
(muestras completas) |
|
|
|
|
|
Parámetros de calidad del |
50 muestras cada |
6 |
enero a junio de 2020 |
septiembre de 2020 |
agua (Puntos de ingreso) |
6 meses |
|
|
(muestras completas) |
¿Qué se está haciendo?
EL PASO WATER dio aviso a TCEQ y se tomó el número correcto de muestras tanto antes como después de este período de cumplimiento. Hemos corregido el problema y EL PASO WATER está ya en vías de cumplir totalmente con los requisitos. Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Richard Wilcox al teléfono (915)
Comparta por favor esta información con todas las demás personas que consumen esta agua, especialmente con aquellas que no hayan recibido este aviso directa- mente (es decir, quienes estén en apartamentos, hogares de ancianos, escuelas y negocios). Puede hacerlo colocando este aviso en un lugar público o distribuyendo copias en persona o por correo.
Este aviso se lo envía EL PASO WATER
Número del sistema público de agua: TX0710002
Fecha de distribución: 1º de abril de 2021
¿De dónde proviene nuestra agua?
El agua que surtimos a nuestros clientes proviene de tres fuentes: una fuente superficial y dos fuentes subterráneas. La fuente superficial es el Rio Grande. Las fuentes de agua subterránea son los acuíferos del Bolsón de Mesilla y del Bolsón de Hueco. Aunque algunos clientes reciben agua proveniente de una sola fuente, la mayoría la recibe de dos fuentes distintas, dependiendo de la temporada del año.
Nuestras plantas potabilizan el agua hasta llevarla a un nivel de seguridad muy superior al requerido por la normatividad de la EPA. El Paso Water da tratamiento constantemente al agua superficial a un nivel de 0.1 UNT, medido inmediatamente después de que el agua ha pasado a través de cada filtro. Este es un nivel considerablemente mejor que las 0.3 UNT que exigen las normas.
Definiciones
(*Las siglas corresponden a la abreviatura en inglés)
Nivel de Acción – La concentración de un contaminante, que si se excede, genera la necesidad de establecer requisitos de tratamiento u otro requerimiento que el sistema de agua debe de sequir.
Promedio – El cumplimiento normativo de algunos MCL se basa en la ejecución del promedio anual de muestras mensuales.
Nivel Máximo de Contaminante (MCL) – El niv- el más alto de un contaminante que se permite en el agua potable. Los MCLs se establecen lo más cerca posible de las metas de contenido máximo de contaminantes, usando la mejor tecnología de tratamiento disponible.
Meta de Nivel Contaminante
Maximo (MCLG) - El nivel de un contaminante en el agua potable, debajo del cual no se conocen o esperan riesgos para la salud. Los MCLGs permiten tener un margen de seguridad.
Nivel máximo de desinfectante residual (MRDL)
- El nivel más alto de desinfectante permitido en el agua potable. Existe evidencia convincente de que es necesario agregar un desinfectante para controlar los contaminantes microbianos.
Meta del nivel máximo de desinfectante residual (MRDLG) – El nivel de un desinfectante de agua potable por debajo del cual no se conoce ni se espera ningún riesgo para la salud. Las metas del nivel máximo de desinfectante residual no reflejan los beneficios del uso de desinfectantes para controlar los contaminantes microbianos.
Promedio anual de funcionamiento por ubicación (LRAA) - El promedio de los resultados de los análisis de las muestras tomadas en una ubicación de monitoreo particular durante los cuatro trimestres anteriores.
N/A – no aplica
Unidad de turbulencia nefelométrica (NTU) – Una medida del nivel de turbulencia (nebulosidad).
Partes por Billón (ppb) – o
microgramos por litro. Una parte por billón es igual a un sobrecito de endulzante artificial (sucaril) disuelto en una alberca olímpica.
Partes por Millón (ppm) – o
miligramos por litro. Una parte por millón es igual a un sobrecito de endulzante artificial (sucaril) disuelto en 250 galones de agua.
Picocuries por Litro (pCi/L) – Una medida de radioactividad.
Técnica de Tratamiento – Un proceso requerido, cuyo propósito es reducir el nivel de un contami- nante en el agua potable.
Contaminantes no regulados - Aquellos contaminantes sobre los cuales la EPA no ha establecido estándares para el agua potable. El propósito del monitoreo de contaminantes no regulados es ayudar a la EPA a determinar la incidencia de contaminantes no regulados en el agua potable y si a futuro se requiere su regulación
Información Sobre El Plomo
Si están presentes, los niveles elevados de plomo pueden causar serios problemas de salud, especialmente en mujeres embarazadas y niños pequeños. El plomo en el agua potable proviene principalmente de materiales y com- ponentes asociados con las líneas de sevicio y plomería de su casa. EPWater es responsable de proporcionar agua potable de alta calidad, pero no puede controlar la variedad de materia- les utilizados en los componentes de plomería. Cuando el agua ha estado en reposo durante varias horas usted puede minimizar la proba- bilidad de exposición al plomo dejando correr el agua de 30 segundos a dos minutos antes de usar el agua para beber o cocinar. Si usted está preocupado por el plomo en su agua, es posible que desee analizar el agua. Información sobre el plomo en el agua potable, métodos de prueba y los pasos que puede tomar para minimizar la ex- posición es la forma disponible la línea directa de Agua Potable Segura o en http://www.epa. gov/safewater/lead o llamar el Laboratorio de Calidad del Agua (915)
Sobre los efectos en la salud
Turbiedad (NTU) - La turbiedad no provoca ningún efecto sobre la salud. Sin embargo, puede interferir con la desinfección y servir como medio para el crecimiento de los microbios.
Arsénico (ppb) - Aunque el agua potable que usted recibe cumple con las normas sobre arsénico de la EPA, sí contiene bajos niveles de este elemento. La norma establecida por la EPA pretende equilibrar lo que se sabe actualmente sobre los posibles efectos del arsénico en la salud, con el costo de eliminarlo del agua potable. La EPA continúa investigando que efectos tiene el arsénico en un nivel bajo, ya que se sabe que este mineral, en altas concentraciones, puede provocar cáncer en los seres humanos, y está relaciona- do con otros problemas de salud como daños a la piel y problemas circulatorios.
Contaminants
El Paso Water Utilities
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 672538
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 35
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Bromate
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Uranium
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- 2-Furancarboxyaldehyde
- Acetone
- Aluminum
- Antimony
- Barium
- Bromochloroacetic acid
- Chlorate
- Chlorite
- Chromium (total)
- Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Selenium
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
El Paso Tap Water
El Paseo Tap Water is well worth a second look if you are looking for good tasting, purified water. The El Paseo station has the benefit of a steady source of tap water, which you can count on whether you are running short on time or simply want to be sure that the water is clean when you run out. They also have bottled water available.
As consumers, we need to be diligent about what our drinking choices are. I’ve lived in several rural areas for many years and always thought that my tap water was just fine. I recently came home from work and noticed some strange odors around the house. Upon further inspection, I found that one of the faucets in the kitchen had been leaking for several months. Turns out, it was the local municipal treatment center that uses chlorine to disinfect the water.
It’s important to know what your water source is and if it contains chemicals that may be hazardous to your health. Even though this particular region of Mexico has low levels of cancer-causing agents, it’s still a smart idea to invest in a quality water purification system and monitor its safety. This is especially true when you’re traveling on vacation somewhere.
El Paso Water Quality
The El Paso Water Quality Commission oversees all testing conducted by the El Paso municipal water treatment plant. All tested samples are carefully collected and analyzed according to guidelines laid down by the commission. Samples are taken throughout the entire city at various points of entry including commercial, industrial, institutional, residences and private homes. When a sample is taken from a residential property, it is taken for a laboratory test to determine the quality of the tap water.
In June of 2020, the El Paso Water Quality Commission held a meeting to discuss how they were going to improve the water in the El Paso drinking water system. During the meeting, one item that was brought up was the possibility of taking a sample from private homes. The commission decided that no further investigation was needed into the feasibility of such a process and that such a step would be improper. They recommended that more investigation into the matter was best left to the experts at the state level. In a meeting on August 4, the California Health Department told the commission that it was not in their jurisdiction and that they would leave the decision up to the city of El Paso to determine its own water quality.
A month later, after the AP story ran, the Health Department sent a letter to all health care facilities in the area stating that anyone using an unapproved water system faced a fine. This means that if you are using an approved system and you come down with a disease as a result, your health insurance will cover it. If you are using an unapproved system and contract a disease, your insurance will pay for it. No one else’s health is protected.
El Paso Water Treatment
El Paso Water Treatment Plant is the main source of potable water in El Paso, Texas. The plant serves a number of communities that depend on it for their supply of potable water. It can be accessed through our toll free numbers and through its website. This plant has various purification methods that can be used to treat your water, ranging from chlorine to ultra violet. There are also some treatment plants that use UV, Ionic absorbing and other methods to treat the water.
It does not matter whether you have an agriculture-based industry or a manufacturing-based industry, your water must go through this plant for it to pass through quality testing. It is very common for industries in the area to use chlorinated water for their manufacturing purposes as well as for their agricultural needs. This contaminated water makes its way into public supply where it is used to help the community meet the needs. It is very important that you make sure that your water has passed through this water treatment plant for your own health and for the good of the community.
This contaminated water can easily enter the aquifer that lies beneath your property, especially if there are underground cavities in your land. This means that you will have to invest in a good filtration system for your own home so that you and your family are protected against the harmful effects of this contaminated water. There are quite a number of companies that manufacture a number of different filtration systems that you can choose from. You should take the time to check out what each of these systems are capable of before deciding which one to get for your home.
El Paso Drinking Water
Have you heard of El Paso drinking water? Well, if you haven’t then you need to get to know it. Just as other towns in the state of Sinaloa have their own version of this well-known ritual, El Paso has their own version of the ritual known as el bis or el cenizo. This article will explain what el bis is, why it is done and where to find the best samples of it.
When you want to experience the purest form of water, you will find it only in the purest of places – El Paso. While there are other towns and cities throughout the state of Sinaloa that produces excellent tap water, none compares to the pure goodness of El Paso’s el cenizo or el esposito water. It is rich in calcium and magnesium and offers a wide range of minerals, all beneficial to human health and well-being. You can either buy a bottle at your local supermarket and fill your own glass or just bring yourself to the nearest El Paso house, where you can buy some for your family or drink a glass yourself.
It is recommended that people who live in or around El Paso should drink from this El Bis (or El Cenizo) well at least once a week – no more than two glasses per person, though it has not been established exactly how much. You do not want to become dehydrated with this water. In addition to its other benefits, it is also said to have an anti-microbial effect. This may be due to the presence of manganese, copper and iron in it; though this has never been conclusively proven.